The Nigerian Navy has uncovered three suspected illegal refining sites and seized about 99,000 litres of products believed to include stolen crude oil and illegally refined diesel in Rivers and Delta states.

The discoveries were made during separate operations on August 31 following intelligence reports on suspected illegal petroleum activities, the Navy said.

Naval personnel attached to Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH and NNS DELTA carried out the operations, which also led to the discovery of six reservoirs and facilities allegedly used for illegal refining.

The Navy said the sites contained a large refining oven, storage facilities and dugout reservoirs holding suspected stolen crude oil and Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel.

Navy spokesman Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said the discoveries dealt a significant blow to networks involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining.

“The identified sites, facilities and recovered products were appropriately handled in accordance with established procedures,” Folorunsho said in a statement.

He said the operations demonstrated the Navy’s continued efforts to disrupt the infrastructure supporting crude oil theft and illegal refining across its operational areas.

“The latest successes demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s ability to maintain pressure across multiple operational areas while denying criminal networks the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and illegal refining activities,” he said.